Labeling machine



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,558,800

E. F. FOSTER LABELING MACHINE Fil May 1922 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m /"'C h, 2; Quom .00:

i fi t iwardfl nsfer f $1;

Oct. 27, 1925- E. FOZZTER LABELING MACHINE Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Play 8, 1,922

Patented Oct. 27, 1925 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. FOSTER, 0F MII'W'AUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LABELING MACHINE.

Application filed May 8, 1922. Serial No. 559,403.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. Fosrna, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to devices of the type described in applicants co-pending ap plication, Serial No. 539,9423, filed Feb. 28, 1922, for affixing labels to cakes of soap, or similar objects.

It comprises means for gripping cakes of soap one by one and overturning them so as to dispose them with the right side up for the reception of a label, a magazine, a. suction device for withdrawing the labels one by one from the magazine, and rotary means for directing steam against the adhesive on the label as it is being moved by the suction device so that it is in condition to be afiixed to a cake of soap properly guided on an endless carrier.

The primary object of the invention is the the steam nozzle in operative posltion for provislon of mechanism operative to aifix the labels by reason of the softeningactlon of a jet of steam. This does away wlth'the inconveniences of paste. troughs and-rolls, which needlessly complicate and retard the. pasting action and call for considerable work on the part of the operator. The mechanism works automatically, the steam jet being operative for a proper and predetermined' interval of time so that the adhesive is softened to a requisite degree. The quantit of steam is definitelyand convenient y regulable. There is no excess condensation of the steam adjacent the exit orifices and the application of the steam is made during the travel of the label, which isuninterrupted, the labels being applied in a rapid manner.

. An additional object of the invention is the provision of a separable magazine,

whereby a nuinbr of magazines maybe used so that whtn one becomes empty, it

may be quickly replaced by another without interrupting operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of devices for disposing the cakes of soap properly for the reception of the labels. Means are provided for over turning the cakes so that the overlapping ends of the bands about the cakes may be upwardly disposed.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the'best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the Which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of an embodiment of the invention showing principles thereof, and in and advancing them, and

is an enlarged view of. the de-,

Figure 6 is a perspective of a cake of soap with a label applied.

lVhile the invention is capable of use on many objects in the disclosed embodiment, it is adapted particularly for action" on cakes of soap 10, which are" retained in suitable packages by a band 11 having overlapped ends. The cakes are fed one after another between gu1des,,12 -'1 2"on a chute 13, which is cut-away'at 14 forthe recepof travel.

plates 21 between pairs of which are quandrantual webs 22. Between the webs are openings 23 adapted to receive the cakes of soap one by one.

Power for rotating the wheel is transmitted from the main drive shaft 24, which rotates sprocket Wheel 25 and thus moves sprocket 26 through the medium of endless chain 27, sprocket 26 rotating shaft 28 supported by leg 29 integral with table top 19. The rotation of shaft 28 moves sprocket 30 rigid therewith, and by means of chain 31 rotates sprocket 32 on shaft 33 mounted to rotate in brace 34. Rigid with shaft 33 is cam 35 having a lifting end 36 on which travels a roller 37 carried by lever 38, the roller being detained at its lowermost position by spring 39 and rotating on pivot 40 carried by the leg 41. Lever 38 carries at one end a pivot 42 on which connection 43 is free to turn pivoted link 44, which, by means of pivot 45, is connected to arm 46 free to rotate on shaft 15. a pin 47 on which a dog 48 is movable.

When roller 37 is in the position shown in Figure 5, it is at its lowermost point When cam end 36 moves upwardly, it elevates the roller, thus depressing pivot 42, lowering link 44 and moving dog 48 about a gear 49 rigid with shaft 15. In this movement of the dog, the dog 48 engages the gear 49 and rotates the shaft 15. This downward movement of arm 46 is sufficient to rotate shaft 15 one-quarter of a revolution.

Table top 19 carries guides 50 permitting sliding movement of a reciprocable traveller 51 having a lug 52 thereon to which is pivoted a link 53 pivoted to lever 54 mounted to rotate on pin 55 carried by leg 41. The lower end of the lever is provided with a roller 56 received in a race 57 in cam 35. The race 57 is substantially parallel tothe exterior surface of the cam on which roller 37 rides so that the lifting end of the cam is operative to move the lever on pivot 55 and gives a reciprocating motion to traveller 51 so that when a cake of soap is carried in a recess 23 to the table top 19 abutting against guide 58, the movement of traveler 51 kicks the cake out of the recess, the traveler being withdrawn before rotary movement is again imparted to the shaft 15. The provision of quandrantual webs 22 prevents the movement forwardly of cakes 10 until the recess 23 is properly disposed for their reception. The rapid rotation of the shaft 15 is prevented from throwing thesoap out of the recesses by the action of retainers 59.

Guide 58 extends longitudinally of table top 19 and is spaced slightly from the inner longitudinal edge thereof. Table top 17 carries a similar parallel guide 58'. When the'cakes of soap are kicked out of Arm 46 carriesv sprocket 70. Sprocket is associated with suction pipe 71 having a valve therein manipulatable by control 72 and the rotation of sprocket 70 operates, by means of cams 73 rigid therewith, to lift the control .72 in a manner fully described in the above identified co-pending application.

The movement of sprocket 70 rotates arms 74 having inlet orifices 75 and gear teeth 76 at their ends. The magazine comprises a cylinder 77 cut-away at 78 in which the labels 79 are stacked. Plunger 80 is op erative to urge the labels downwardly. The cylinder carries a pair of oppositely disposed trunnions 81. Table tops 17 and 19 carry supports 82 to which is secured a standard 83 carrying a pair of ears 84, each of which has upwardly directed forks between which trunnions 81 are received. The fork structure permits the ready insertion and withdrawal ofa magazine so that a number of magazines may be used and when one becomes empty, it may be conveniently replaced by another which is loaded, so that the operation of feeding the labels may be continued uninterrupted ly. The lower end of the magazine is retained normally in its lower position by reason of its greater weight, the position being predetermined by means of an adjustable screw 85 threaded in shoe 36 carried by standard 83. Gear teeth 87 are carried by the lower end of the magazine and mesh with gear teeth 76 on arms 74 so that the rotation of the arms brings the ends there of adjacent to the end of the magazine, which is rotated on trunnions 81.

As is apparent from the above described co-pending application, the suction acting through arms 74 will draw a single label from the magazine. teeth 76 and 87 travel a short distance, they are disengaged and the magazine returns to its normal position, the label continuing its travel. ing adhesive is disposed outwardly to be acted on by the steam in a manner present- 1y to be described.

Steam is admitted through pipe 88 and elbow 89 in which is received pipe 90 to which sleeve 91 is secured by screw 92 on which hollow shaft 93 is rotatable, the shaft being mounted in bearing 94 carried by su port 95 on table top 19. By means of e After the meshing The surface of the label carry-.

rotated on the loosening of bolt 92, thus altering the relationship of slot 97 in pipe 90 to slot 98 in sleeve 91. To admit steam 1 the slots must be in registry, but the size of the exit orifices may be determined by Varying the adjustment of the pipe with respect to the sleeve. The rotary shaft 93 carries nozzles 99-99, the opening in which nozzles is brought in registry with the openings 97 and 98 on the rotation of shaft 93. As sprocket 70 has the same angular veloc1tyas shaft 66 and shaft 63 by reason of the sizes of the gears and sprockets, shaft 93 is made to rotate at twice the speed of shaft 63, sprocket 100 being of suitable size to cooperate through chain 101 with sprocket 102 to accomplish this result; shaft 63 being rigid with sprocket 102. Thus there are two rotations of shaft 93 to sprocket 70.

When the label traveling in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Figure 1, moves until the arm 74 is disposed toward the left horizontally, the adhesive on the label is exposed to the action of a jet of steam which is emitted through nozzle 99 and orifices 97 and 9.8. This action is merely momentary, but the duration of time is definitely regulable through the gearing arrangement.

As described, orifices 97 and 98 operate to regulate the amount of steam ejected. An

' advantage of having the constriction located Pipe 90 is given a slight inclination to carry away water of condensation which drops into pipe 88. When nozzle 99 is moved away from the end of arm 74, such moisture as condenses from the steam is received in a pan 103 carried on rests 104. The moistened label is brought into contact with the center of the cake of soap, covering the overlapped ends of band 11. The soap is moving inthe same direction as the label at the time of application of the same. When one label is being applied to the soap, anadditional label is being presented to one of the nozzles 99.99. While there are four arms 74, the fact that nozzles 99-99 travel at twice the speed as the arms 74 results in the registry of a nozzle with the end of an arm every time the a an advanced for positioning the label for ac ion by the steam jet. After the application of a label-to a cake of soap, the cake is advanced and rollers 105 rotating on shaft 106 carried in plates 107 secured to table tops 19 and 17 by ears 108 operate on the labels to press them tightly against the paper. They are then deposited on chutes 109 and fed to belt 110 moving on pulley 111,

rotating on shaft 112, mounted on support 113 and rotatable by sprocket 114 from which chain 115 runs to sprocket 116 on main power shaft 24.

I claim:

1. The combination of a magazine containing labels gummed on one side, means for removing said labels from said magazine with their gummed sides held outwardly and for carrying said labels to a package, and means for intermittently spraying steam upon the gummed side of said labels after the labels leave the magazine and before reaching the package, such means furnishing steam only when a-label opposes it.

2. In a labeling machine, a label moistener comprising a rotary nozzle having a radially exten ing opening therein, an apertured sleeve upon which said nozzle rotates, and means for conducting steam to said sleeve, whereby steam is intermittently projected tflrorg said nozzle when said nozzle is roate comprising a rotary nozzle having a radially extending opening therein, an apertured sleeve upon which said nozzle rotates, means for varying the size of the a erture in said sleeve, and means for con ucting steam to said sleeve, whereby steam is intermittently pro'ected from said nozzle when said nozzle is rotated.

4. The combination of rotary suction means for removing labels from amagazine, a tubular member having an opening therein and forming a support for said rotary means, and a rotary nozzle having an open-' ing therein, said nozzle operating to discharge steam against said label.

5. A moistener for labeling machines comprising a tubular member having an opening therein, a sleeve enveloping said member having an opening therein, adapted to be brought in registry with said first mentioned opening, a rotary nozzle on said sleeve having an opening therein, and means for supplying steam to said tubular member.

6. The combination of a magazine, rotary means for withdrawing labels from said magazine, a tubular member having an opening therein, a sleeve having an opening therein adapted to be brought in registry with said first mentioned opening, a rotary nozzle having an opening therein, and means for bringing said nozzle adjacent to one of said labels for applying steam thereto.

'7. The combination of a pair of rotary nozzles, means for rotating said nozzles, a magazine, means for withdrawing labels from said magazine, and means for moving said second mentioned means in unison with said rotary nozzle, whereby steam may be applied to said labels.

8; The combination of a rotary nozzle,

3. In a labeling machine, a label moistener means for ejecting steam there-thru, a maging a label from said magazine, and means 10 azine, means for withdrawing labels from for causing a simultaneous motion of said said magazine and exposing said labels to magazine and the means for removing a the action of the steam, said means operatlabel. ing to apply said labels to packages. In testimony that I claim the toregoing 9 Th bi ti f a magazine f Ihave hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, 15 labels, and means for supporting said mag- 1n fi Z y of Mllwaukee a State of azine and permitting rotation thereof and Wlsconsm. removal of said magazine, means for remov- EDWARD F. FOSTER. 

